I realize that many Leaf owners have some inflated sense of importance that they are involved in some great environmental cause saving the world, but the vast majority of people (like myself) view that as bunk. The more the Leaf can divorce itself from this environmental mindset (symbolized by the Leaf and Tree icons) the more it will appeal to the vast majority of people who are more interested in reliable economic vehicle and not some overly subsidized environmental project that is doomed to failure.

I'm not really offended but some people may be so just off the cuff:

I have spent 8-1/2 years of my life supporting global climate change research as an ice core driller. I have read the papers and GCC is a reality. Furthermore we now have the smoking gun that it is caused by human activity. You don't have to take my word for it. Just google EPICA and see the data for yourself.

As for zero emissions I recognize it actually means zero emissions here. The electricity is probably being generated in a coal fired or natural gas generator. Also, how many barrels of oil does it take to build a leaf? I have no idea, but the Leaf does not have a zero carbon footprint. So even if we do get a bit big headed about it it is not the solution. Only part of it.

I think it's interesting to compare the grams of co2 per mile in an EV vs an electric. Not much difference until you start to plot the carbon foot print of getting the oil, transporting the crude, refining it, and distributing the gas. Then it's about 1/5th the amount of carbon per mile driven.

Further, at least Electric power has the potential to come from more sustainable generation methods. Some can off-set with solar or wind. This tech is evolving fast meanwhile fossil fuels will always be fossil fuels.

I agree... no need to get smug about an EV, but it's nice to feel like an early adopter of a piece of the solution.

My wife and I are both bewildered anybody thought this thing a valuable addition to the car. It's kinda cutesy, but I'd prefer the car just be ten bucks cheaper (or however much it costs to add that thing) and I don't have any visual spew in my view.